Director of Youth and Family Education | Society Hill Synagogue | Philadelphia, PA
About Society Hill Synagogue
Society Hill Synagogue is an independent congregation, rooted in tradition, flourishing with life. Our services are based on Conservative liturgy while incorporating influences from the Reconstructionist, Renewal, and Reform movements, and beyond. We emphasize lifelong learning, social action, soulful music and prayer, and sacred community.
We pride ourselves on being warm, welcoming, and intergenerational. We embrace our diverse membership, including interfaith couples and families, LGBTQIA+ individuals and families, people of color, and people of all abilities.
We have over 375 member households, an increase of nearly 30% over the last three years.
About Our Hebrew School
Society Hill Synagogue’s Ann Spak Thal Hebrew School grounds students’ experiences in Jewish text, tradition, and community. Our vibrant school immerses children and adolescents in the rhythms of Jewish life, empowering them to forge their own authentic relationships with Judaism. We aim to help students see the Jewish community as a lifelong source of nourishment and strength while fostering a sense of responsibility.
We have 105 students in our school (Pre-K through 12th grade), an increase of more than 50% over the last three years.
Current Hebrew School Schedule
Hebrew School is held on Saturday mornings for all students in grades Pre-K through 7th grade. Students from 3rd-7th grade attend a portion of that time in our sanctuary, participating in our synagogue-wide Torah discussion, or, when there is a B’nei Mitzvah celebration, attending a portion of the B’nei Mitzvah service. Our Pre-K through 2nd grade students lead our closing prayers from the bimah.
Our students in 3rd-7th grades also attend classes on Tuesdays. For 6th graders, this includes a special B’nei Mitzvah preparation class with our Hazzan. Our 3rd-7th grade classes help to lead one Friday night service per semester, two classes at a time.
Our teen program has consisted of a variety of activities, including classroom time on Saturdays and/or Sundays, social outings, paid opportunities to serve as teaching aides in our Hebrew School classrooms, and more.
Director of Youth and Family Education Position
The new Director of Youth and Family Education, our first full-time director to hold this position, will enter a growing school filled with warmth and vibrancy, in which families build community with one another, including and especially at our weekly Kiddush lunch following Shabbat (Saturday morning) services.
Priorities
In addition to learning the rhythms and culture of our community, the Director of Youth and Family Education will prioritize:
Curriculum and Pedagogy Development: The Director of Youth and Family Education will build on the strengths of our immersive Shabbat experience and Tuesday learning, and bring a vision for designing and implementing a holistic curriculum and approach to teaching, learning, and teacher training, in which the students’ experiences in the classrooms, the sanctuary, and the community will complement one another.
Teen Programming: The Director of Youth and Family Education will bring a vision for how to strengthen our teen engagement through the conception and coordination of a series of opportunities for our teens, including service-learning as paid classroom aides in our Hebrew School classes, social programming, connections with youth groups and teens in other communities, leadership development, and more.
Family Education: The Director of Youth and Family Education will develop opportunities for parents to gather and learn together through, for example, monthly sessions giving parents the opportunity to learn in parallel with their children.
Key Responsibilities
The Director of Youth and Family Education will oversee the week-to-week operations of the Hebrew School, including, but not limited to, the following areas:
Culture: Fostering a Hebrew School community culture of warmth, engagement, approachability, connection, and love of Jewish learning and community.
Supervision: Hiring and providing ongoing supervision to all teachers, including through regular staff meetings, professional development opportunities, and providing an open door to facilitate collaboration and reflection.
Holidays: Designing and executing holiday programming for families and youth at Society Hill Synagogue services and events, including but not limited to Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Tu BiSh’vat, Purim, Passover, and Yom Ha’atzma’ut.
Communications: Writing a weekly email to Hebrew School families; collaborating with the synagogue’s Communications Manager to promote the school to the wider Philadelphia Jewish community; communicating with prospective families at multiple stages of the recruitment and onboarding process; and communicating with individual member families to steward their experience in the school.
Disability Inclusion: Collaborating with inclusion specialists to ensure that programming is accessible, including to neurodiverse students with varied learning needs.
Lay Leadership: Cultivating and maintaining an active and supportive body of parents and lay leaders in collaboration with our Hebrew School Committee Chair and our Vice President of Education.
Preschool Collaboration: Collaborating with our Director of Early Childhood Education (Playschool) to strengthen the transition from Playschool to Hebrew School and find opportunities for partnerships.
Young Family Shabbat Collaboration: Collaborating as needed to strengthen the relationship of the Hebrew School with our Young Family Shabbat program, a lay-designed and lay-led twice-monthly Shabbat program for families with kids ages six and younger.
Administration: Preparing weekly classroom setups, materials, and other resources necessary for Hebrew School, monthly family programs, and other programming; reporting payroll to the synagogue’s administrative office; and attending and participating in weekly synagogue staff meetings.
Director of Youth and Family Education Qualifications
- A passion for Jewish life and learning, innovative education, and working with students and parents
- Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in education, preferably in Jewish community education
- Bachelor’s degree required; Masters in Jewish Education or related field preferred
- Demonstrated ability to build positive, meaningful relationships with youth, teens, families, colleagues, and community leaders
- Strong knowledge of Hebrew and Judaism
- Availability to lead programs on Shabbat mornings (Saturdays), with occasional presence at Friday evening Shabbat services and other Jewish holidays
- Excellent follow-through from conception to implementation and evaluation
- A self-reflective learner who is organized and able to improvise
Supervision & Collaboration
The Director of Youth and Family Education, a full-time exempt position, reports directly to, and meets regularly with, the Rabbi, with additional collaboration opportunities with our Executive Director, Hazzan, Director of Early Childhood Education, Communications Manager, Office Staff, and Custodial Staff.
Salary & Start Date
$70,000-$80,000 per year, commensurate with experience, starting June 2025.
Benefits
Benefits package includes health insurance; retirement savings plan; paid vacation; paid time off for most federal holidays; paid time off for Jewish holidays when not part of direct responsibilities; paid sick leave; paid parental leave; professional development allowance with related days off; and complimentary synagogue membership and Hebrew School tuition.
To apply
Please send your resume and letter of intent to [email protected]
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through March 18, 2025.
Society Hill Synagogue is an equal opportunity employer.